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Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu

5 Days / 4 nights

from: USD 480.00

Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu. This hike to Machu Picchu is one of the most interesting and importantalternative treks to Inca Trail due to its wide range of flora and different ecosystems, and its Inca site that lies a top and at the back of Machu Picchu mountain, and the trail eventually leads to Aguas Calientes, located at the base of the historical and archeological site of Machupicchu and we also climb Huayna Picchu mountain, we take a early bus to see the sunshine and avoid crowds. Machu Picchu joined by one of our knowledgeable English speaking tour guides.

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Itinerary

Day 01: Cusco - Mollepata - Challacancha - Soraypampa

Day 02: Soraypampa - Colcapampa

Day 03: Colcapampa - Playa

Day 04: Playa - Llactapata - Hidrolectrica - Aguas Calientes

Day 05: Machu Picchu

Highlights of Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu:

5 days Hiking to Machu Picchu with professional guide, cook, muleteer and horses

Visit and explorer the Llactapata ruins

Guided tour of Machu Picchu

Climbing to Huayna Picchu mountain

Discover the lost city of the Incas

Visit around to Machu Picchu

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Cusco - Soray - Huayracmacha.

Early morning pick up at your hotel to after doing a 3 hour bus ride from Cusco (3400m)- to Mollepata (2700m), and one and a half hour drive more to Soraypampa (3750mt). Briefly stop in Limatambo or Mollepata to have breakfast and then carry on our journey to the trailhead in Soraypampa.

We start a gentle hike at the head of the valley. The trail goes steep uphill and comes to a serie of zigzags. All around, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of Humantay and Salkantay. Then, to catch our breath, we will drop gently down to the small laguna Soirococha where we stop for lunch.

After walking 4 hours up, we reach the highest pass (4,550m) from where we can have a stunning scenery of the sacred mountains in the Peruvian Andes Humantay and Salkantay. That will compensate the great effort in reaching the top which is marked by a pile of stones that grows daily as each traveler adds his pebble to thank the Apus (mountain spirits) for a safe trip and good luck. Then we descend to our First campsite at Huayracmachay (3750m).

Day 02: Huaracmachay - Collpampa.

After an early breakfast, we will leave the beautiful pyramid shaped peak of Salkantay behind us. From now, the fauna and flora change as we enter the tropical cloud forest and discover its lush vegetation of wild orchids, bromilias and also beautiful birds. This level is known as a cloud forest. Continuing our descent through the groves of bamboos; don't forget to keep looking back at the snow-peaks behind you, framed by bamboo fronds.

After 4 hours of heading down we arrive in the tiny settlement of Collpapampa where you set up our camp site, and have lunch and afterwards take a relaxing bath at the natural hot springs and take the same way back up to the camp site at Collpapampa.

Day 03: Collpampa - La Playa.

After a healthy breakfast, the trail continues down the valley into the forest, from increasingly tall trees and groves of bamboos, providing some bird watching opportunities without missing the view on the chaotic river.

You will be going across some amazing untouched path where strawberries grow at your feet and passion fruit are above your head in a decor of begonias and purple orchids! To finally arrive to our Camp site in La Playa.

Day 04: La Playa - Llactapata - Hydro - Aguas Calientes.

We wake up early this day to start a nice way up hill which will give us some amazing views on the valley. After 3 hours, we will enjoy a break in a Pampa overlooking one of the main highlights in South America Machu Picchu. It s a magical view given to us that the main part of tourists will never see!

A 3 hours going down the path easily leads the hikers to the bamboos groves and into a forest of increasingly thick vegetation and tall trees. Some excellent bird watching opportunities!

Reaching to la hidreoelectrica we follow the rail tracks heading up the Urubamba valley to our last camp site in Puentes Ruinas (Aguas Calientes).

Day 05: Machu Picchu - Cusco.

After an early morning breakfast we will walk up to Machu Picchu sanctuary and enter early for the best photos opportunities and then spend the rest of the morning visiting and exploring the ruins. Before leaving, let s take the time to climb up to Huaynapicchu (45 min) before heading down to Aguas Calientes to aboard the train back to Cusco.

What is included in the Salkantay Trek Machu Picchu?

Early morning transfer by private tourism bus to Soraypampa (headtrail)

Warm clothes such as a jacket, a fleece (thermal clothing is also recommended for cold nights during camping),

Hat or a cap (to protect you against the Sun, rain as well as cold),

Sun cream or sun block,

After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body,

Insect repellent – recommended minimum is 20% DEET (please note that no malaria cases have been reported during this trip!),

Camera and its charger/batteries (please note that batteries are consumed quickly under cold conditions),

Flashlight/headlamp + batteries,

Handkerchiefs and toilet paper,

Small towel and toiletries,

Swimsuit (to visit the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes),

Snacks (biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.) Please note: we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. The recommendation of taken own snack applies only for customers who like a specific snack that might not be in our menu.

Bottled water for the first morning and a water bottle to be refill.

Optional: walking sticks; you can also rent it from us,

Please note: we provide with filtered boiled water during the entire trek, but if you like to use water from streams along the trail, you need to take some water-purifying tablets with you.